TV Times, Ratings & Verdicts: Your Complete Guide to Weekend GAA Action

All times, TV games and verdicts for this weekend’s games.

SATURDAY

* Extension if necessary

Ulster SFC Quarterfinals*

Antrim vs Cavan, Corrigan Pk, 2.0, J Henry (Mayo), BBC2

Antrim played in a higher division. They are at home and if Cavan had had his way this would not have been performed at such a fine Belfast venue. Even so, the Saffrons’ rise to fame fell short on the home straight and Cavan will join them in Division 3 next season. A potential banana peel, but they deserve favorites.

Odds: Ant 9/4 Draw 15/2 Cavan 1/2

Verdict: Cavan

Leinster SHC Road 2

Wexford v Dublin, Wexford Pk, 5.0, F Horgan (Tipperary), Sky Sports

Arguably the biggest hurling match of the weekend, if only because Kilkenny and Galway are considered two of the three teams to emerge from Leinster, and whoever loses here is in near-mortal danger. Neither of them overly impressed in their opening auditions, a scattergun Dublin edging past Laois, but Wexford’s escape to equalize against Galway was the more significant result.

Odds: Wexford 8/13 draw 9/1 Dublin 13/8

Verdict: Wexford

Kilkenny v Laois, Nowlan Pk, 5.30, L. Gordon (Galway)

Hungry Cats did what was expected in Mullingar – finally. TJ Reid helped level the 16-point lead with a 4-1 second-half appearance and now he’s starting for the first time this season. Brian Cody’s four changes reflect his reckless “perform or be benched” mindset.

Odds: Kilkenny 1/25 draw 25/1 Laois 9/1

Verdict: Kilkenny

Galway – Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 6.0, P Murphy (Carlow)

Henry Shefflin now appreciates the frustration of watching as a manager carelessly watch a winning position slip away while wondering how long it will take for Conor Whelan’s hamstring to heal. Despite Westmeath being heroic for 50 minutes against Kilkenny, this will only end one way.

Odds: Galway 1/100 Draw 40/1 Westmeath 20/1

Verdict: Galway

Muenster SHC Rd 2

Limerick v Waterford, Gaelic Grounds, 7.0, S Stack (Dublin), Sky Sports

A Munster or even an All-Ireland final taster? Let’s not overtake each other, but following their now-signature league tours, Limerick got back to her voracious old self in Cork.

Not perfect – watch 16 wides – but the Kiely fundamentals were all on display. Waterford broke far more against Tipp, particularly on her puckout, but this was a serious test of stress and her super-sub impact after half-time was really impressive. In a way, tonight is like a free shot for Liam Cahill.

Odds: Limerick 1/2 draw 10/1 Waterford 2/1

Verdict: Limerick

Joe McDonagh Cup SH Rd 2

Carlow vs. Kerry, Dr. Cullen Pk, 1.0, S Hynes (Galway)

Odds: Carlow 1/2 draw 9/1 Kerry 15/8

Verdict: Carlow

Offaly vs Meath, O’Connor Pk, 2.0, M Kennedy (Tipperary)

Odds: Offaly 1/100 Draw 33/1 Meath 16/1

Verdict: Offaly

Christy Ring Cup SH Rd 3

Sligo – Wicklow, Markievicz Pk, 12.30pm, J Connors (Donegal)

Odds: Sligo 1/8 draw 14/1 wick’ 5/1

Verdict: Sligo

Kildare v Derry, Newbridge, 2.0, C Cunning (Antrim)

Odds: Kildare 3/10 Draw 10/1 Derry 11/4

Verdict: Kildare

London vs Mayo, McGovern Pk, 4.0, C. Mooney (Dublin)

Odds: London 8/13 Draw 8/1 Mayo 6/4

Verdict: London

Nickey Rackard Cup SH Rd 3

Donegal vs. Roscommon, Letterkenny, 2.0, K. Brady (Louth)

Odds: Donegal 8/13 draw 8/1 Roscommon 6/4

Verdict: Donegal

Tyrone vs Armagh, Carrickmore, 2.0, T Conway (Derry)

Odds: Tyrone 2/5 draw 9/1 Armagh 9/4

Verdict: Tyrone

Lory Meagher Cup SH Rd 3

Longford vs Louth, Pearse Pk, 2.0, J Judge (Mayo)

Odds: Longford 8/11 draw 8/1 Louth 5/4

Verdict: Loud

Electric Irish’ Ulster MFC Rd 1

Donegal v Fermanagh, Ballybofey, 4.0, C Roberts (Antrim)

Armagh v Derry, Sports Ground, 5.30, C Curran (below)

Tyrone vs Cavan, Healy Pk, 6.0, D Boylan (Monaghan)

Leinster MHC Prel’ Q final

Kildare v Antrim, Dowdallshill, Dundalk, 12.0, K Brady (Louth)

Westmeath v Laois, Cusack Pk, 12.0, O Beehan (Kilkenny)

SUNDAY

Ulster SFC Quarterfinals*

Donegal v Armagh, Ballybofey, 2.0, M Deegan (Laois), BBC1

Tasty in normal times, this promises to be more than spicy. Armagh’s successful forays through the morass of GAA appeals to acquit Rian O’Neill, then Aidan Nugent and Stefan Campbell, is a massive boost to Kieran McGeeney’s hopes for the long-awaited liberation of Ulster.

Conversely, Donegal will not be lacking in motivation after Ódhran McFadden-Ferry and Neil McGee accepted their penalties. It might even bring out the best in them. Declan Bonner’s men are a frustrating mystery, but they’re home and don’t wonder if they’re sneaking this around a point. After a standing count.

Odds: Donegal 5/6 draw 7/1 Armagh 11/8

Verdict: Donegal

Connacht SFC Quarterfinals*

Mayo v Galway, MacHale Pk, 4.0, D Coldrick (Meath), RTÉ2

This might be closer than Galway’s 2/1 odds suggest, but we’re partly in the realm of guesswork as both sides showed worrying signs on the final day of the league – but how much do we take at face value?

Will Galway tweak their full-back line and give it more protection? Surely Mayo won’t be as passive or open as he was against Kerry? Much will depend on whether Oisín Mullin, Paddy Durcan and Diarmuid O’Connor start; Without this trio, their running game could be fatally compromised. On the other hand, Mayo are more battle-hardened and Galway has yet to prove any doubters wrong.

Verdict: Mayo 8/15 Draw 8/1 Galway 2/1

Verdict: Mayo

Leinster SFC Road 1*

Louth v Carlow, Páirc Tailteann, 2.30, N Cullen (Fermanagh)

Carlow won her last SFC meeting by 11 points. But that was four years ago, long before Mickey Harte came to work his magic on Louth.

Odds: Louth 1/8 draw 14/1 Carlow 11/2

Verdict: Loud

Wexford v Offaly, Wexford Pk, 3.0, D O’Mahoney (Tipperary)

Who wants the “booby prize” (or maybe less these days) of a date with the dubs? Despite the relegation, Offaly is on a higher level.

Odds: Wexford 4/1 draw 11/1 Offaly 1/5

Verdict: Wexford

Wicklow vs. Laois, Aughrim, 3.30, F. Kelly (Longford)

Battle of the basement boys, both teams crashed into Division 4. Wicklow lost a manager along the way while Laois won their league meeting by 12 points.

Odds: Wicklow 11/4 draw 15/2 Laois 4/11

Verdict: Laois

Muenster SHC Rd 2

Tipperary v Clare, Semple Stadium, 2.0, J Owens (Wexford), RTÉ2

Will Tony Kelly explode from the traps? If so, this could get very interesting and make Tipperary sweat for Championship survival. Still, Colm Bonner’s men (even in the Deise defeat) showed enough promise to give them a tentative nod here.

Odds: Tipperary 8/13 Tie 9/1 Clare 13/8

Verdict: Tipperary

Joe McDonagh Cup SH Rd 2

Down vs Antrim, Ballycran, 2.0, J. Keenan (Wicklow)

Odds: Bottom 4/1 Draw 11/1 Antrim 1/5

Verdict: Antrim

Nickey Rackard Cup SH Rd 3

Fermanagh v Warwickshire, Brewster Pk, 1.0, B Keon
(Galway)

Odds: Fermanagh 1/8 Draw 14/1 Warwickshire 5/1

Verdict: Fermanagh

Lory Meagher Cup SH Rd 3

Leitrim vs. Monaghan, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 2.0, A McAleer (Donegal)

Odds: Leitrim 11/10 draw 8/1 Monaghan 5/6

Verdict: Leitrim

Cavan v Lancashire, Breffni Pk, 11.30am, C McDonald
(antrime)

Odds: Cavan 1/2 draw 9/1 Lancashire 7/4

Verdict: Cavan